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Jun 13, 2008

This is JPPGG bunpo principle #87.Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar

To say in Japanese that you used to ~ verb, (at fairly regular intervals and at some point in the past) use the following construction:

used to ~ (~ is any verb)yoku verb(base TA) mono desu.

The following examples will help you grasp today's JPPGG construction. After you get a feel for how this grammar is made, just keep plugging new verbs into the verb area in Base TA and then continue playing by making your own unique and interesting sentences. Don't forget to practice by saying all your newly created sentences out-loud. Drilling and killing, or plugging and playing your way to building a solid base from which your Japanese conversational skills will surely improve. Each new grammar principle you learn is like adding another weapon to your formidable Japanese language arsenal, which you will be able to use whenever the need arises. Keep plugging and playing until your friends tell you they can't stand how much you practice your Japanese or until they say stop. But even if you start bugging people because you practice too much, just keep telling yourself its all for my own good. Just keep practicing the grammar constructions and saying to yourself new sentences of your own creation. If you want to improve your Japanese, don’t fret too much on annoying the slackers that don’t want to master another language as badly as you do. The following are example sentences to show you how the construction is typically used so you too can take it and make it your own. Once again the construction for #87 Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar is as follows:

English - used to ~ (where ~ is any verb)

Japanese - yoku verb(base TA) mono desu.

1. When I was younger, I used to go to school by bicycle.Watakushi ga motto wakai koro, jitensha de yoku gakko ni itta mono desu.{As for I, in the more young time, by bike often school went thing is.}[1] a. The main verb in 1. is iku - v. to go.b. Putting the verb into its past tense -TA form ending gives you itta.c. Insert iku, verb(base TA) or in this case itta into the construction andd. you have your new sentence.yoku itta mono da or I used to go.

2. He used to cheat, but the teacher busted him, and now he is a good boy.Kare wa mae yoku kanningu[2] shita mono desu keredomo sensei ni barete shimatte ima orikosan desu.

3. I used to play there a lot.Watakushi wa soko de yoku asonda mono da. [3]

G.A.B. or the Ghetto After Blast - One point advice - The Japanese verb nareru means, "To get used to" which is similar to the used to that you have been getting used to in this bunpo. Nareru is a really cool word, and you will hear it a lot in Japanese conversation.

Ex.1 He is used to that job.Kare wa sono shigoto ni narete imasu.[4]

As Always, Do your Best! Ganbatte Ne!Makurasuki Sensei.

[1] Given here in its' literal translation; its easy to see why not to translate literally as can be seen from the corruption madness of its form and sound.[2] From the English adjective cunning.[3] Non-polite plain form of the copula desu = da.[4] See JPPGG Ghetto Grammar #88: 'Verbing' -verb (base TE) + iru or the Japanese Gerund.